HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS PROGRAM.

SEC. 1701. HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS PROGRAM.(a) Authorization of High Priority Projects.—Section 117(a) of title 23, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:“(a) Authorization of High Priority Projects.—119 STAT. 1255“(1) In general.—The Secretary is authorized to carry out high priority projects with funds made available to carry out the high priority projects program under this section.“(2) Availability of funds.—“(A) For tea–21.—Of amounts made available to carry out this section for fiscal years 1998 through 2003, the Secretary, subject to subsection (b), shall make available to carry out each project described in section 1602 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century the amount listed for such project in such section.“(B) For safetea–lu.—Of amounts made available to carry out this section for fiscal years 2005 through 2009, the Secretary, subject to subsection (b), shall make available to carry out each project described in section 1702 of the SAFETEA–LU the amount listed for such project in such section.“(3) Availability of unallocated funds.—Any amounts made available to carry out such program that are not allocated for projects described in such section shall be available to the Secretary, subject to subsection (b), to carry out such other high priority projects as the Secretary determines appropriate.”.(b) Allocation Percentages.—Section 117(b) of such title is amended to read as follows:“(b) For TEA–21.—For each project to be carried out with funds made available to carry out the high priority projects program under this section for fiscal years 1998 through 2003—“(1) 11 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 1998;“(2) 15 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 1999;“(3) 18 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2000;“(4) 18 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2001;“(5) 19 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2002; and“(6) 19 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2003.“(c) For SAFETEA–LU.—For each project to be carried out with funds made available to carry out the high priority projects program under this section for fiscal years 2005 through 2009—“(1) 20 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2005;“(2) 20 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2006;“(3) 20 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2007;“(4) 20 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2008; and“(5) 20 percent of such amount shall be available for obligation beginning in fiscal year 2009.”.(c) Advance Construction.—Section 117(e) of such title is amended—(1) in paragraph (1) by inserting after “21st Century” the following: “or section 1701 of the SAFETEA–LU, as the case may be,”; and119 STAT. 1256(2) by striking “section 1602 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.” and inserting “such section 1602 or 1702, as the case may be.”(d) Availability of Obligation Limitation.—Section 117(g) of such title is amended by inserting after “21st Century” the following: “or section 1102(g) of the SAFETEA–LU, as the case may be”.(e) Federal-State Relationship.—Section 145(b) of such title is amended—(1) by inserting after “described in” the following: “section 1702 of the SAFETEA–LU,”;(2) by inserting after “for such projects by” the following: “section 1101(a)(16) of the SAFETEA–LU,”; and(3) by striking “117 of title 23, United States Code,” and inserting “section 117 of this title,”.